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Woods cruises to eight-stroke win at BMW
2009-09-13
LEMONT, Illinois (Reuters) - Tiger Woods coasted to an eight shot victory at the BMW Championship on Sunday, to capture his sixth title of the season. Woods, who began the day with a seven shot cushion over American Brandt Snedeker and Australian Marc Leishman, closed with a three-under 68 to win for a fifth time at Cog Hill. It was Woods 71st PGA Tour title leaving him just two short of tying Jack Nicklaus for second on the all-time list. "If you would have asked me at the beginning of the year, you guys probably wouldn't have predicted I would have had the year like I have," Woods told reporters. "To have the opportunity to win just about every tournament I have been in...to come off knee surgery and have this type of year and be this consistent is something I'm very proud of. "Absolutely this is one of my best years, no doubt about that." There was no hint of drama during the sun-kissed final round, as Woods' challengers were unable to mount a charge against a workmanlike performance by the world number one. American Jim Furyk, who held off Woods to win at Cog Hill in 2005, returned a bogey free five-under 66 to finish second alongside PGA Tour rookie Leishman (69) at 11-under 273. Sean O'Hair (66) was alone in fourth, one shot further back at 10-under followed by fellow American Zach Johnson (68) at eight-under. Ireland's Padraig Harrington (73) and Spain's Sergio Garcia (71) finished in a tie for sixth on six-under 278. "My whole goal at the end of the day was to shoot under par," said Woods. "I knew if I shot under par today it would force the guys to have to shoot what I did yesterday to force it into extra-holes." Woods, who shot a course record 62 on Saturday, mixed a bogey at the fifth with birdies at the seventh and ninth to reach the turn at one-under and his seven-shot lead intact. He then played error free on the back nine with an eagle on the par-five 15th receiving roaring approval from the gallery. "It was kind of a tournament for second place," said Furyk. "I was just trying to grind it out." The victory moved Woods into top spot in the FedEx Cup standings going into the season-ending Tour Championships in Atlanta in two weeks, where he will play for a $10 million bonus. Snedeker missed a chance to join the 30-man field in Atlanta after carding a triple bogey on the final hole. The American needed only to two putt from 15-feet to secure a spot at the Tour Championship but he twice missed tap ins to finish with a seven, which dropped him to 33rd in the FedEx standings. Australia's John Senden finished in the 30th and final spot. (Editing by Greg Stutchbury;)
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